9/8/2023 0 Comments Silent night bookUsing soldiers letters to home or in some cases to newspapers at home, military unit histories, and soldier memoirs, Weitraub explains how the events were started and what the soldiers did when they met in the No Man's Land between the lines. According to Weintaub, instances of fraternization by German soldiers with French, English and Scottish soldiers occurred all along the Front and were usually initiated by the Germans- especially the men from Saxony. I had heard about the Christmas truce of December, 1914 but I did not realize how extensive it was. Stanley Weintraub's moving re-creation demonstrates that peace can be more fragile than war, but also that ordinary men can bond with one another despite all efforts of politicians and generals to the contrary. Surely the forgotten Christmas Truce was one of history's most beautiful moments, made all the more beautiful in light of the carnage that followed it. Sometimes the greatest beauty emerges from deep tragedy. When angry superiors ordered them to recommence the shooting, many men aimed harmlessly high overhead. But as the power of Christmas grew among them, they broke bread, exchanged addresses and letters, and expressed deep admiration for one another. Soon they were gathering and burying the dead, in an age-old custom of truces. It began when German soldiers lit candles on small Christmas trees, and British, French, Belgian, and German troops serenaded each other on Christmas Eve. Yet, in December 1914, the Great War was still young, and the men who suddenly threw down their arms and came together across the front lines-to sing carols, exchange gifts and letters, eat and drink and even play friendly games of soccer-naively hoped that the war would be short-lived, and that they were fraternizing with future friends. It had been lost in the tide of horror that filled the battlefields of Europe for months and years afterward. Silent Night, by renowned military historian Stanley Weintraub, magically restores the 1914 Christmas Truce to history. And it still stands as the only time in history that peace spontaneously arose from the lower ranks in a major conflict, bubbling up to the officers and temporarily turning sworn enemies into friends. It happened in spite of language barriers. It happened in spite of orders to the contrary by superiors. It took place in the improbable setting of the mud, cold rain, and senseless killing of the trenches of World War I. It was one of history's most powerful-yet forgotten-Christmas stories. Her contribution also speaks volumes about their enduring friendship.From an acclaimed military historian comes the astonishing story of World War I's 1914 Christmas truce-a spontaneous celebration when enemies became friends. Unfinished at the time of his death, Silent Night was completed by Parker's longtime agent, whose decades-long association with Parker's work gives her unique insight and perspective to his voice and storytelling style. But it's not a simple case of intimidation-Spenser, aided by Hawk, finds a trail that leads to a dangerous drug kingpin, whose hold on the at-risk community Street Business serves threatens not just the boys' safety and security, but their lives as well. Slide's mentor, Jackie Alvarez, is being threatened, and Street Business is in danger of losing its tenuous foothold in the community, turning Slide and many others like him back on the street. Homeless and alone, Slide has found refuge with an organization named Street Business, which gives shelter and seeks job opportunities for the homeless and lost. It's December in Boston, and Spenser is busy planning the menu for Christmas dinner when he's confronted in his office by a young boy named Slide. A special treat for the holiday season-a rumination on Christmas and the meaning of family as conceived by Robert B.
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